BYU’s bolt to independent status obscures one of the best story lines of the opening weekend of college football: The battle of the two Jake’s.

Washington’s Jake Locker, one of the top NFL quarterback prospects, will be on one sideline and Jake Heaps, one of the top freshman recruits in the nation, on the other sideline in Provo.

BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall declared the Heaps-Riley Nelson QB battle a draw although he will start Nelson, a 2006 starter for Utah State.

On Tuesday’s first Mountain West teleconference of the year, Mendenhall said the two-QB system could go the entire year.

Although Heaps didn’t draw the first start, Mendenhall is not disappointed with his progress. “I hadn’t expected him to be this far along in terms of delivering the ball all over the field,” BYU’s coach said.

Then again, don’t be surprised if Mendenhall is just trying to keep the pressure off Heaps early. Heaps enrolled in midyear and was kept off-limits to the media in spring ball.

Contrast that to Pete Thomas at Colorado State. He nearly had his own press conference on signing day when he was already enrolled at CSU. He’s going to start the season for the Rams at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium.

BOULDER — Following a two-hour practice Tuesday morning, Colorado coach Dan Hawkins said veterans would handle the kickoffs in Saturday’s season opener against Colorado State. But a newcomer will be CU’s primary punt returner.

Juniors Brian Lockridge and Arthur Jaffee will be back for kickoffs, Hawkins said, while transfer Travon Patterson will field punts.

Patterson, 5-feet-9 and 175 pounds, is a senior who played the last three seasons at Southern Cal. He is immediately eligible this season (and does not have to sit out a transfer year) because NCAA sanctions against the Trojans include a ban on bowl participation this season.

Patterson said he had a 20-yard punt return during CU’s final tune-up scrimmage on Saturday.

“Things are going real good for me,” said Patterson, who also is listed as a co-starter at the Z-receiver position, along with true freshman Paul Richardson.

BOULDER — Colorado coach Dan Hawkins thinks this is a better defense than the one last year when Colorado State stunned the Buffaloes in the opener, 23-17.

“It was a lot newer last year,” Hawkins said. “Newer schemes, all of that. We basically changed some things before camp last year. We’ve been this obviously since last season and you saw the defense kind of get better as the season went on there. We’re just a lot more confident in what we’re doing.

“Guys can play faster, a little more confident in what they’re doing.”

Speaking on this week’s Big 12 coaches teleconference, Colorado’s Dan Hawkins said the Buffs won’t change their defense in an effort to specifically apply more pressure on Colorado State quarterback Pete Thomas and try to rattle the true freshman.

“Not really. I think you still have to play it situationally and play it the same way,” Hawkins said.

“(CSU coach) Steve (Fairchild) wouldn’t be playing him if he didn’t think he was ready and is a good player and all that. We certainly know about him (from recruiting). He’s a very mature kid.

“I think he will handle all that (pressure) stuff fine. So I don’t think we would do that.”

My take: There are always adjustments made in game plans depending on the opponent’s personnel and, yes, experience level. It won’t surprise me on Saturday if CU sends more blitzers at Thomas, particularly early in the game.